Kerala has a little over 2.71 crore voters for April 9 Assembly polls

Kerala has 2,71,42,952 voters for the April 9 State Assembly elections. More names had been added to the electoral roll after it underwent a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) which concluded in February.

The number includes 1,39,21,868 women, 1,32,20,811 men and 273 third gender voters, said Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan U. Kelkar at a press conference here on Tuesday (March 24, 2026).

It also includes 2,42,093 overseas electors and 53,984 service voters.

The number of electors has risen by a little over 1.89 lakh from the post-SIR voter numbers in Kerala. Prior to the SIR, Kerala had a little over 2.78 crore voters (as on October 27, 2025). The draft voters’ list published on December 23, 2025 had 2.54 crore voters. After the SIR, the number had risen to 2.69 crore voters.

Mr. Kelkar said the Election Commission of India (ECI) is targeting a voter turnout of above 85% this time. He requested all voters to exercise their franchise.

Election officials have designated 2,040 polling stations in Kerala for the upcoming elections as ‘critical.’ In additional to the security arrangements involving the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) and IT-based systems, the District Collectors can also, if needed, deploy micro-observers. Kerala has 30,471 polling stations at present.

145 CAPF companies for Kerala

The EC has sanctioned 145 CAPF companies for Kerala as part of the security arrangements for the elections. A first batch of 30 companies has already arrived in Kerala.

Mr. Kelkar said his office will initiate the process of printing the ballots once the list of candidates gets finalised after the deadline for withdrawing the nominations ends on March 26.

Arrangements are also being made to ensure that postal ballots, which includes home voting for voters above 85 years, are conducted in a transparent manner, he added.